In a Paris court, Salim Berrada, also known as the ‘Tinder rapist,’ has been sentenced to nineteen years in prison for raping or sexually assaulting approximately seventeen women between 2014 and 2016. The 38-year-old photographer met his victims through dating apps, including Tinder.

The public prosecutor on Thursday called Berrada “an insatiable egocentric hunter” and demanded a strict sentence. The maximum prison sentence for rape is twenty years. Despite Berrada’s continued denial of any abuse, civil parties have shown up in large numbers since the trial began, many of them young women in their twenties.

The case has gained significant public attention, with many people closely following the proceedings. The court is expected to deliver a final verdict soon. The outcome of this trial will have implications for future cases involving sexual assault and rape facilitated through online platforms. Additionally, the impact of this trial on online dating safety and the responsibility of dating apps in screening users will likely be discussed in the coming days.